Bush extends branch of friendship to Australia

By Michael Gordon and Washington

May 16, 2006 — 10.00am

AUSTRALIA'S resolve to stand beside the United States in the war against terrorism is as strong today as it was the day after the attacks of September 11, 2001, John Howard said yesterday in response to an extraordinary gesture of friendship by President George Bush.

Forty-eight hours before hosting a state dinner to honour the Prime Minister at the White House, Mr Bush and his wife Laura attended a dinner for 10 at the Australian embassy.

Earlier they planted two trees in the embassy garden.

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It was the first time an American president had visited the embassy and, according to aides, the first time Mr Bush had made such a presentation of historic trees linked to the White House garden. Dressed casually and accompanied by his wife and one of his twin daughters, Jenna, the President spoke with warmth of his regard for Mr Howard and his gratitude for Australia's military support in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"It's wonderful to be here with our dear friends the Howards," said Mr Bush, adding that the trees would be a symbol of enduring friendship between the Australian and American people.

"I can't thank you enough, John, for your strong support for the liberty agenda and the deep desire for the world to be a peaceful place. I really enjoy working with you for the common good."

In response, Mr Howard recalled that it was during a news conference on the same embassy lawn, the day after the assaults on New York and Washington in 2001, that he said Australia would stand "side by side" with the US in response to the terrorist threat.

The exchange added poignancy to what was otherwise a light-hearted and informal occasion, with Mr Howard and the President swapping one-liners as the leaders and their wives turned the soil around the two trees, an American elm and a southern magnolia. The elm is a cutting from a tree planted at the White House by president John Quincy Adams in 1826. The magnolia is a seedling from a tree planted by president Andrew Jackson around 1830.

"My name is not Kennett," Mr Howard quipped when his turn came to use a shovel, a reference to the time Jeff Kennett, as Victorian premier, tossed spadefuls of sand at photographers and journalists during a soil-turning ceremony for CityLink in 1996.

Mr Howard said it would be the responsibility of Australia's ambassador, Dennis Richardson, to care for the trees and make sure his two Rottweilers did not damage them.

Mr Richardson and his wife Betty hosted last night's dinner, which was attended by Mr

Howard and his wife Janette, their son Richard and his partner, Mr and Mrs Bush and their daughter Jenna and her partner.

For Mr Bush, the evening was a respite from domestic politics, falling approval ratings and anti-war protests, including a Mother's Day rally on the lawns opposite the White House yesterday.

Among those who spoke at the rally were actress Susan Sarandon and Cindy Sheehan, who became a prominent activist against the United States-led invasion of Iraq after the death of her son Casey, who was serving in the country.

Ms Sheehan, who is planning to visit Australia to attend anti-war rallies next week, said Mr Howard had been a fool to follow the President into war.

"I think that George Bush is a fool and anybody who aligns with George Bush right now, especially with his Administration crumbling from this corruption, I think they should distance themselves and quit supporting my country in committing crimes against humanity," she said.

Sarandon said the US strategy in Iraq was not working.

"Before you sacrifice anyone else, I think we should pull out," she said.

"Our troops that are over there now are spending all their time and energy and resources just trying to stay alive.

"There's no spreading of democracy that's happening, there's no building of schools that's happening. The only thing that's been built are permanent bases."

Back in Australia, Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said Mr Bush would have been better off discussing the AWB scandal with the Prime Minister than the war in Iraq.

"It probably would have been helpful if George Bush had had a comment or two to John Howard about what happened with the wheat board scandal," Mr Beazley said.

Overnight, Melbourne time, Mr Howard began the business end of the Washington stay, meeting separately with new Federal Reserve Bank chairman Ben Bernanke, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.